Hello everyone, I had some difficulty finding the right forum for our issue. Unfortunately, we are not (yet) homeowners and currently rent our place. I hope to find some willing respondents here 😉.
Recently, we noticed increasing dark spots beneath the white wallpaper in the bathroom and informed the landlord. He came to check and measured the wall moisture, which was damp at the spot where the stains are and also in the area of the exterior wall. Roofers came by and found that water was running down the outside wall from a downpipe and presumably entering the wall where the pipe clamps are embedded in the masonry. They then relocated the pipe.
Now the problem is my lack of expertise in this area. The landlord says we should wait for now because the wall will dry on its own, and the cold and frost will actually drive the moisture out of the wall faster than, for example, warm weather. In one or two weeks, we are supposed to compare whether the spots have increased or stayed the same since they could still have been caused by us.
I asked whether it really makes sense to just wait instead of taking appropriate measures to speed up the drying process. Since the dark spots, which are currently still under the wallpaper, are likely mold. Suggestions like using a dehumidifier were mentioned, but only as possibilities, with no willingness to take action themselves. I believe that if I pay rent for a flat, the landlord is responsible for such matters, provided of course the cause is not the tenant, meaning us.
Of course, it is also possible that we caused the mold, although in that case the spots would probably be on the wallpaper and not underneath it (far from a wallpaper seam). However, we have lived here for two years and have not changed our ventilation habits, so if anything, mold would already have developed.
Is it correct to wait two weeks first instead of starting to dry out the wall promptly?
Recently, we noticed increasing dark spots beneath the white wallpaper in the bathroom and informed the landlord. He came to check and measured the wall moisture, which was damp at the spot where the stains are and also in the area of the exterior wall. Roofers came by and found that water was running down the outside wall from a downpipe and presumably entering the wall where the pipe clamps are embedded in the masonry. They then relocated the pipe.
Now the problem is my lack of expertise in this area. The landlord says we should wait for now because the wall will dry on its own, and the cold and frost will actually drive the moisture out of the wall faster than, for example, warm weather. In one or two weeks, we are supposed to compare whether the spots have increased or stayed the same since they could still have been caused by us.
I asked whether it really makes sense to just wait instead of taking appropriate measures to speed up the drying process. Since the dark spots, which are currently still under the wallpaper, are likely mold. Suggestions like using a dehumidifier were mentioned, but only as possibilities, with no willingness to take action themselves. I believe that if I pay rent for a flat, the landlord is responsible for such matters, provided of course the cause is not the tenant, meaning us.
Of course, it is also possible that we caused the mold, although in that case the spots would probably be on the wallpaper and not underneath it (far from a wallpaper seam). However, we have lived here for two years and have not changed our ventilation habits, so if anything, mold would already have developed.
Is it correct to wait two weeks first instead of starting to dry out the wall promptly?
Off the cuff, I would first recommend proper ventilation and setting up dehumidifiers. The latter come in different types (electric or with granule blocks). In your case, I would go for an electric one, as they have a bit more power (you can also rent them at hardware stores).
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